Logbook Requirements
You will keep a logbook of all the work you have done for your project in detail. The entire logbook should be available either digitally (tablet, computer) or physically (binder) at the fair. This will be part of the assessment and will contribute to your score. Any winning project chosen to proceed to the Canada Wide Science Fair must present a logbook.
What is a logbook?
- The logbook is your record or journal of progress. It can be digital or written in a binder.
- Date and number each page or entry.
- Remember to record all websites, references and people that you spoke with for your bibliography.
- Your log book should record almost everything you need (and more!) for your brief summary and your display.
- Click on the + sign on each section below for details that could be recorded.
What to record in your Logbook
For an experiment
INITIATE AND PLAN
- What are you passionate about? What are you good at? What do you want to change?
- Use answers to these to come up with a topic, and three possible questions.
- List the background reading references. (make sure these are included at the end of your logbook)
- What have you learned about your topic?
- Use your research to refine your question.
- What is your purpose or final question?
- What is your hypothesis – what do you think will happen?
- Will you need Ethics approval? (involve animals/involve classmates or other people)
- What are the safety concerns and will you need any MSDS or microbe forms?
- What materials will you need (are they accessible) and what is your budget?
- What is your planned procedure? What variables will you change; what will you keep constant?
- Do you want to use photos, videos to record? Do you have the equipment you need?
- What are your timelines? Set out realistic dates with the deadline for online registration in mind.
PERFORM AND RECORD
- List details of the actual materials used with correct units and accurate measurements.
- List the actual procedure you followed.
- List the observations you made.
- Collect your data in tables making sure that columns have headings and units.
You may have to do the above a few times as things go wrong. Put them all in the logbook, but only the final experiment in your report.
ANALYZE AND INTERPRET
- Make any calculations necessary on your data.
- Make charts to illustrate and examine the data.
- Make sure all units and axes/columns are labelled.
- What did you learn?
- What worked and what didn’t work?
- Were there some variables that could not be controlled?
- Did something come up that you did not anticipate?
- What might you do next time to improve the experiment?
- Were the results clear enough to agree or disagree with your hypothesis, or clearly state a conclusion or do you have to think again? Did your findings lead you to a new hypothesis?
- Why does this matter?
- What went well, what did not go well?
- Would you change anything for future science fairs?
- Did this project lead you to other project ideas for the future?
COMMUNICATE
- Make sure to plan your brief summary. Who will proofread?
- Plan your display. What materials will you need?
- Plan your oral presentation. Make speaking points. (Try not to read – just make headings to remind you what you need)
- Keep a list of references in one place throughout your project.
- You should create your reference list /bibliography in APA style. You must include all references and any AI assistance
- Remember to acknowledge the assistance of people who helped significantly along the way.
- Record your indigenous land acknowledgement.
What to record in your Logbook
For an innovation
INITIATE AND PLAN
- What are you passionate about? What are you good at? What do you want to change?
- Use answers to these to come up with a topic and a problem that needs to be solved, or a tool/system that needs to be improved.
- List the background reading references. (Make sure these are included at the end of your logbook)
- What have you learned about possible solutions to the problem.
- Use your research to refine and decide on one solution that you will work on.
- Design the prototype – draw a model including measurements with units.
- What materials will you need (are they accessible) and what is your budget?
- Are there any potential safety concerns?
- How will you test the model to make sure it works?
- Do you want to use photos, videos to record? Do you have the equipment you need?
- What are your timelines? Set out realistic dates with the deadline for online registration in mind.
PERFORM AND RECORD
- Build your model
- Record any difficulties with the design and any changes you are making along the way
- Pictures are helpful
- Perform your test
- Record data in charts (using correct units and measurements)
- Record any problems with the testing and repeat if necessary
ANALYZE AND INTERPRET
- What has gone well; what needs to be improved
- Improve the design
- Retest the improved design and repeat as necessary.
- Note you may be doing this a few times. Keep a record in your logbook of all the changes you make. Only show your final model in your summary and display.
- List the steps you took and the changes you needed to make to produce your final working model.
- Why does this matter?
- What went well, what did not go well?
- Would you change anything for future science fairs?
- Did this project lead you to other project ideas for the future?
COMMUNICATE
- Make sure to plan your brief summary. Who will proofread?
- Plan your display. What materials will you need?
- Plan your oral presentation. Make speaking points. (Try not to read – just make headings to remind you what you need)
- Keep a list of references in one place throughout your project.
- You should create your reference list /bibliography in APA style. You must include all references and any AI assistance
- Remember to acknowledge the assistance of people who helped significantly along the way.
- Record your indigenous land acknowledgement.